Keep your winter break busy with these family events this week, Dec. 30-Jan. 5
Lights
37th Street. Neighbors have banded together to bring back the holiday light tradition. The 37th Street Lights start at the intersection of 37th and Guadalupe streets. Nightly through December. Information: facebook.com/37thstreetlights.
Winter Wonderland at Circuit of the Americas. Look for a Chinese Lantern Festival, a tunnel of lights, an outdoor skating rink, the North Pole and Santa's Workshop, singing trees, carnival rides, a petting zoo and live music. Tickets start at $16, with some activities costing extra; ages 5 and younger get in free. 6-10 p.m. Sunday. Circuit of the Americas, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd. circuitoftheamericas.com/winter-wonderland
Events
Ice Skating on the Plaza. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily through January. Whole Foods, 525 N. Lamar Blvd. wholefoodsmarket.com
Austin New Year. Music all afternoon and evening, plus fireworks at 10 p.m. The kids' area includes a train, fairyland, story time and face painting. 3 p.m. to after fireworks. Free. Vic Mathias Shores. austinsnewyear.com
Onstage
"A Christmas Carol." For ages 6 and up. 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $25. Topfer Theatre, 202 S. Lamar Blvd. zachtheatre.org
Circus Chickendog "The Mutt-Cracker (Sweet!)" See the dogs perform the classic story. 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday-Monday, Friday-Jan. 6. 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. $15-$35. The Vortex, 2307 Manor Road. vortexrep.org
"Tortoise and Hare: at Zach Theatre. 2 p.m. Saturday. $18-24. Kleberg Stage. Zach Theatre, 202 S. Lamar Ave. zachtheatre.org.
Museums
Thinkery.Noon Year's Eve Balloon Drop & Bubble Wrap Stomp. 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Monday. $20 per adult/child. Tinkering Take-Homes: String Art Creations. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Thursday-Friday, Noon-3 p.m. Tuesday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday. $6. STEAM on the Spot: Mrs. Purple Urple. 6-7 p.m. Wednesday. Free. Pop and Fizz Kitchen Lab. For ages 4 and up. 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m. Saturday-Jan. 6. $8. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. thinkeryaustin.org
Toybrary Austin.New Year's Eve. Dress up, make a shaker and enjoy a balloon drop at noon. 10:30 a.m. Monday. $12. 2001 Justin Lane.toybraryaustin.com
Alamo Drafthouse. Kids Camp: "The Peanuts Movie." 10 a.m. Sunday, Wednesday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m. Monday, 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Mueller. 10 a.m. Sunday-Thursday, Slaughter Lane. "March of the Penguins," 10 a.m. Sunday-Monday, Wednesday-Thursday, 1:35 p.m. Tuesday, Lakeline.
Books
BookPeople 10:30 a.m. story times:Giraffe Problems, Sunday. Last Story time of 2018, Monday. Being Unique is the Jam, (11:30 a.m.) Tuesday. Snow Day. Wednesday. Spread the Joy, Thursday. Dance Party, Friday. Tim Miller Author Guest, Saturday. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd. bookpeople.com
Barnes & Noble. 11 a.m. Saturday story time: "Clifford the Big Red Dog." Saturday. barnesandnoble.com
Library
Closed Monday-Tuesday.
Lego Lab. 3 p.m. Wednesday, Southeast Branch. 4 p.m. Friday, North Village Branch.
Music and Movement. 11 a.m. Friday, Old Quarry Branch.
Just for Teens: Kingdom Hearts Unlocked. 1 p.m. Friday, Central Library.
Tech Familia Virtual Reality. 11 a.m. Saturday, Ruiz Branch.
Saturday Movie Matinee: "Hotel Transylvania 3." 2 p.m. Saturday, Windsor Park Branch.
Slime Saturday. 2 p.m. Saturday, Howson Branch.
